Cultural studies emerged from a concern over rapid social change and its challenge to existing intellectual paradigms.  Situated at the cross-roads of the Chinese-speaking world and Asia Pacific region, Taiwan has especially experienced large-scale political and economic transformations that contributed to a world deeply entrenched in economic disparities, political turmoil, nationalistic identity problems, ethnic strife, gender/sexuality violence, post-colonial developments, etc.  On top of the above, cross-national cultural production, cultural consumption, media images, teenage culture, etc. have all but loosened long-standing boundaries of nations and regions.  Cultural studies in Taiwan thus aims to issue forth critical analyses and reflections of all these aspects.

Teaching Cultural Studies Workshop 2006 aims to bring together scholars and teachers from various parts of the Asia-Pacific region in order to promote mutual exchange of teaching experiences and curricular designs.  The five-day intensive workshop will thus provide an invaluable opportunity for inter-Asia scholars to dialog and learn from one another, to evaluate and brainstorm for solutions to pedagogical problems, and ultimately to gain some understanding of the intellectual self-reflections born out of Asian social and cultural change.